| Common Name | Black-legged Kittiwake |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rissa tridactyla |
| Type of Report | Out-of-Season |
| Date of Observation | 12/26/2022 |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | David Guertin |
| Mailing Address | 1599 Route 30 Cornwall, VT 05753 United States Map It |
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| Date Completed | 12/26/2022 |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 44.055395 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | -73.416719 |
| Place Name | DAR State Park |
| Township | Addison |
| County | Addison |
| Vermont eBird Checklist URL | ebird.org |
| Time of Day | 01:00 PM |
| Length of Time Observed | 2 minutes |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 9000 |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 5000 |
| Noteworthy Weather Conditions | Partly cloudy, breezy, 20F, no heat distortion over the water |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | Hawke Endurance ED 85mm 25-75x scope Initial sighting was at 25x, then zoomed in to somewhere around 50x while viewing the bird in flight |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | No experience at all with Black-legged Kittiwakes (it's a life bird!). The most likely species to be confused with would be a Bonaparte's Gull, which I am very familiar with. They are commonly seen here in the fall and were fairly numerous today, both here and nearby at the Champlain Bridge. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | Open water of Lake Champlain |
| Behaviors Observed | Quick, powerful wingbeats and direct straight flight low over the water. |
| Description of Vocalizations | None |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | Juvenile with black leading edge of wings in a bold M. M pattern not as wide as a Little Gull and more complete than juvenile Bonaparte's Gull. Dark collar patch on side of head, conspicuous even from a distance. Quick, powerful wingbeats and direct flight, unlike the Bonaparte's Gulls that were also around. Watched through the scope for about 2 minutes flying south low over the water closer to the NY side of the lake until it disappeared from view to the south. Waited for another 20 minutes to see if it would fly past again, without luck. |
| Relative Size & Shape | Gull size and shape. It was too far away and solitary to discern size relative to other gulls. I did not note any distinctive features regarding wing length or shape. |
| Head | Conspicuous dark collar patch |
| Feet & Bill | Not noted |
| Upper Back | Not noted |
| Lower Back & Rump | Not noted |
| Wings | Distinct sharp, bold, black leading edge to wings, which was what caught my eye in the first place. As the bird flew closer the commonly mentioned "M" pattern to this black band was clear. This M shape was more distinct and unbroken than the somewhat similar pattern on an immature Bonaparte's Gull (which were also seen today). |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | Not noted |
| Tail | Not noted |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | Bonaparte's Gull: Little Gull: |
| This report was written from notes taken: | Immediately After |
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